Take the opportunity to build knowledge on prescription writing and even design a few prescriptions on this site. Discuss the different categories of prescriptions and the drugs that fall into these categories.




Prescriptions must include:

  • DDS name
  • DDS address
  • Patient's name
  • Patient's address
  • Patient's age

Superscription includes:

  • The Rx symbol

Inscription includes:

  • Information about the drug
  • Dosage
  • When to take it
  • Drug name

Signature and DEA is required

5 Drug Categories

  • Schedule I- high abuse potential, no medical use; example heroin
  • Schedule II- high abuse potential with medical use; example amphetamines, codeine, oxycodone, morphine
  • Schedule III- abuse potential less, possible high psychological dependence; example benzphetamine, mixtures of codeine or hydrocodone with aspirin
  • Schedule IV- even less abuse potential, low dependence liability; example phenobarbital diazepam
  • Schedule V- even less abuse potential cough preparation containing codeine
§ How to write a prescription
Heading- name, address, and telephone number of the prescriber
Name, address, and telephone number of the patient
Date of prescription

Body- the Rx symbol
Name and dose size or concentration of the drug
Amount to be dispensed
Directions to the patient

Closing- prescribers signature
Drug Enforcement Administration number
Refill instructions

Abbreviations
Latin
English
ad lib.
ad libitum
at pleasure
a.c.
ante cibum
before meals
aq.
aqua
water
b.i.d.
bis in die
twice a day
caps.
capsula
capsule
c
cum
with
d.
dies
a day, daily
disp.
dispensa
dispense
gtt.
guttae
drops
h.
hora
hour
h.s.
hora somni
at bedtime
non rep.
non repetatur
do not repeat (or refill)
no.
numerus
number, amount
p.c.
post cibum
after meals
p.r.n.
pro re nata
as needed
q.h.
quaque hora
every hour
q.4h.
quaque quara hora
every 4 hours
q.i.d.
quater in die
four times a day
Sig.
signa
let it be labeled, label
stat.
statim
immediately
tab.
tabella
tablet
t.i.d.
ter in die
three times a day

Here are some rules to help calculate children's dosage:

Clarks rule

child's weight (lb [or kg])
--------------------------------------- X adult dosage = child's dosage
150 lb ( or 70 kg)

Young's rule

child's age (yr)
----------------------------------------- X adult dose = child's dosage
child's age + 12 (yr)

§
Metric versus household measurement systems
Household
Metric volume
1 USP drop
0.05 ml
1 teaspoon
5 ml
1 tablespoon
15 ml
1 teacup
120 ml
1 glass
240 ml
1 pint
480 ml